Joint Final Communique of the meeting of the leaders of politico-military groups for peace and reconciliation

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Country/entity: Central African Republic
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Final Communique of the meeting of the leaders of politico-military groups for peace and reconciliation
Date: 5 Aug 2018
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/local conflict
Central African Republic Conflicts (1996 - )
The Central African Republic conflict is one of a set of regionally connected conflicts addressed by the African Great Lakes process. After the country gained independence from France in 1960 it has been ruled by a sequence of autocratic leaders that principally gained power through coups. Since the mid-1990s several waves of internal conflict took place in the Central African Republic, primarily along tribal, and later-on increasingly sectarian, lines. In 1996 and 1997, French troops and soldiers from neighbouring countries intervened to end a mutiny in the capital, Bangui, by factions of the army. The fighting was predominantly along tribal lines, with southern tribes in revolt against the ‘northern’ government. A UN mission was installed in 1998 to secure the truce.
After General Bozizé took control of the country after several coup attempts in 2003, a ‘bush war’ began led by armed opposition forces. From late 2006 onward, government troops with French military support severely weakened the rebels. Following this, a number of agreements were signed during 2007-2008, but not all factions have accepted them. In 2011, Bozizé was re-elected in supposedly fraudulent elections, which resulted in a new wave of uprisings. Séléka, an alliance of northern rebel groups, took over parts of the country and forced Bozizé to agree to a power-sharing deal. However, after this agreement broke down, Séléka took control of Bangui and Bozizé had to flee the country in 2013. Leader of Séléka, Michel Djotodia, took office and officially disbanded Séléka. However, continual violence between ex-Séléka groups and opposing militias, collectively known as ‘anti-balaka’, persisted and Djotodia was forced to resign less than a year later. Catherine Samba-Panza was installed as interim president until Faustin Archange Touadéra was elected in January 2016. In February 2019 an agreement was signed between the government and fourteen armed groups, including ex-Seleka groups, committed to disarmament. However, violence between ex-Seleka groups and anti-balaka continues.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Inter-group
Peace process: CAR: Local Processes
Parties: Signatory Parties:
His Excellence ADBOULAYE ISSEINE of the CNDS
General of the Army Corps of the UPC ALI DARASSA MAHAMAT
General ALKHATIM MAHAMT of the MPC
Third parties: -
Description: The CNDS, UPC, and MPC agree to work together to fight banditry, secure transhumance corridors, and jointly approach the restoration of peace to the Central African Republic

Agreement document: CF_180805_Joint_Final_Communique_tr.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): CF_180805_Joint_Final_Communique_FR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Local agreement properties

Process type: Informal but persistent process
Rationale: The armed groups in the CAR have signed multiple agreements that confirm or restate their mutual relationships, as well as their relationship with the government. This is another such agreement, with a strong local focus on preventing banditry and keeping the transhumance corridors open.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?: Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale: In the 'Letter dated 14 December 2018 from the Panel of Experts on the Central African Republic established pursuant to resolution 2399 (2018) addressed to the President of the Security Council', this agreement is described as presenting the armed groups' unity with regard to the government. In this sense, this agreement is meant to increase their influence on the broader negotiations and the role these groups play in the broader conflicts in CAR.
Name of Locale: Moyenne Sido
Nature of Locale: Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD): 8.221609, 18.715549
Participant type: Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar: No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture): No specific mention.
Grievance List: No specific mention.
Cattle rustling/banditry: Page 1:
We, military leaders of the FPRC, MOC, and UPC, after a long consultation in the Moyenne Sido base of the MPC; have identified all our differences and have decided to join hands in the fight against banditry in the Transhumance zone and all our respective areas.
We have decided to set up a joint commission that will be responsible for peacefully settling any dispute between traders and breeders in our areas, in addition to the establishment of an FPRC-MPC-UPC Joint Force, which will be responsible for securing the transhumance corridors.
To this end, we inform the national and international community that we are now a team, whose goal is to restore peace and stabilize the CAR to allow the free movement of goods and people, as well as the free movement of National and International NGOs.
Social cover: No specific mention.

Central African Republic

Unity - Dignity - Work

Moyenne Sido on 08/05/2018

JOINT FINAL COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE MEETING OF THE LEADERS OF POLITICO-MILITARY GROUPS FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION

We solemnly declare our will to act per the common objectives and principles, namely the restoration of peace, security, and the establishment of a calm climate of dialogue and respect.

Let us put an end to the armed confrontation and let us focus on the political struggle.

We, military leaders of the FPRC, MOC, and UPC, after a long consultation in the Moyenne Sido base of the MPC;

have identified all our differences and have decided to join hands in the fight against banditry in the Transhumance zone and all our respective areas.

We have decided to set up a joint commission that will be responsible for peacefully settling any dispute between traders and breeders in our areas, in addition to the establishment of an FPRC-MPC-UPC Joint Force, which will be responsible for securing the transhumance corridors.

To this end, we inform the national and international community that we are now a team, whose goal is to restore peace and stabilize the CAR to allow the free movement of goods and people, as well as the free movement of National and International NGOs.

We reiterate our commitment to participate in African initiatives for peace in the Central African Republic.

On the initiative of the CNDS and the invitation of the Chief of Staff of MPC, this meeting for peace and reconciliation in the CAR was held on 05/08/2018 at the MPC base in the commune of Moyenne Sido, in the presence of the Chief of Staff of FPRC SALEH ZABADI, Deputy Chief of Staff of MPC HISSEINE KALIL, DAMANE ZAKA RPRC represented by General OUSTA ALI Deputy Chief of Staff of FPRC, Chief of Staff of Seleka General ALI ISSAKA, to conduct a thorough review of the situation in CAR.

Those gathered express their heartfelt thanks to the Chief of Staff of the MPC for the welcome and hospitality shown since their arrival at Moyenne Sido in OUHAM.

The participants congratulate the MPC Chief of Staff, as well as the local authorities of this city for the efforts made.

In the search for a peaceful solution to the conflict in our country as well as true and lasting peace following the final initiative, the participants welcome the statement of the President of the CNDS His Excellence ADBOULAYE HISSEINE made on 05/08/2018 on this final initiative.

They appeal to the National and International community to intensify their multifaceted support of the Central African Republic and of the full success of this initiative for peace and reconciliation in the CAR.

Signatory Parties:

His Excellence ADBOULAYE ISSEINE of the CNDS

General of the Army Corps of the UPC ALI DARASSA MAHAMAT

General ALKHATIM MAHAMT of the MPC

Done at Moyenne Sido on 08/05/2018